How do we interpret the look on ‘our Lord’s’ face in this picture? I know that it’s hokey, something that Berean would try and get us to pay $47 for, but think about what the picture means. Is Jesus crying over the stock market? Is he crying over people ravaged by natural disasters? Is he crying over the state of our nation’s politics? Is he crying over global politics? Is he crying over the blood of his martyrs that anonymously perform the act of greatest faith every day? Or is he crying over the blood of his martyrs that is safe and sound in its mortal coils, trying desperately to find any other mode of service than being poured out for their brother?
James, Hannah, my wife and I had the pleasure of fellowship last night over my birthday dinner (I’m officially 24 as of 5:45 pst today). As the meal passed, so too did the talk of our fantasy football league and several other entertainingly prosaic topics. And then we tried to fix the world. After many long diatribes, pleas and admonitions about the role of our government in a world filled with unjust regimes committing unspeakable atrocities against their own defenseless people, James broke through the deadlock. We had discussed military intervention, economic sanctions, isolationalist policies and imperialist strategies, but then James hung a sharp left and said, “Well, I believe that what we’re talking about is really the work of the church. That’s probably why we don’t agree.”
It took some time for James’ comment to sink in, but it hit the nail on the exact head. It was beside the point whether or not our government went to war with theirs. It was our business to be concerned with the Body in Iraq specifically and the Middle East generally, and how we support them. Does that mean we go to Iraq and live, preach, and intercede with the gospel by laying down our lives? Surely not! We should be sure to make a bulletin point about it, though. To go there ourselves, though? That’s a death wish! That’s irresponsible! . . . That’s the call of our LORD! A good friend of mine for all their might tried to do just such a thing and met incredible resistance from their friends and family. Not that they were hoping to give their life up, but had shed the trepidation of such an act. I don’t know if I ever properly encouraged them due to the shame their actions brought upon my own head, highlighting the flippancy and convenience of my own faith.
Is being a martyr even on the American church’s radar? How many of our children would know what that word means? How many of our adults? Our elders? Our pastors? The most common context I hear the word in is a pejorative reference to someone who is trying to be manipulative, and yet it was the calling and result of the Apostles. It was the main goal of God’s envoy to Earth. Jesus, I don’t know even how to begin to think about how this impacts my life, but take my fear of laying what I have before Your feet for service. To die is gain, and to live is Christ, my friends. Right? I’m trying to convince myself of that as I write. What does that really mean?
5 comments:
hey micah! glad you've come out of blogger hiding. :) i also really enjoyed our discussion and fellowship last night. hopefully we can have evenings like that more frequently. it's so nice to be able to openly and honestly munch on topics with brothers and sisters. oh and... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
the picture reminds me of the new switchfoot song "stars" - "stars looking at a planet watching entropy and pain, maybe start to wonder how the chaos in our lives could pass as sane."
Crap. And I'm worried about how to become a pilot.
Jesus loves us so much. I don't love people that much. You're still my friend, though, Micah. Happy birthday.
Thanks, Dave. I'm glad that I call you a friend. And I'm not saying 'Let's all go get killed for Jesus!' or anything like that. JLy said it best in his post about anonymity. He's not afraid to lose anything this world has to offer. He's already dead.
And a Happy Birthday it was indeed. Happy Old Person (24!) Day to me, but yesterday.
I have a great book recommendation for you in regards to this post. You will absolutely love it. It is called "To Baghdad and Beyond: How I Got Born Again in Babylon" by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove. Chris Erdman turned me on to it a few months ago. I think James is wanting to read it right now. You should check it out, its all about this guy going to be with our brothers in Baghdad while the US dropped bombs on it during the first two weeks of the war. Trust me... read it.
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